Question

Which of the following molecules of RNA would you predict to be the most likely to fold into a specific structure as a result of intramolecular base-pairing?

1) 5′CCCUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAGGG-3′
2) 5′UGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUGUG-3′
3) 5′AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-3′
4) 5′GGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGGGGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGG-3′

Answer 1

Option 4, with its patterned sequence, is the most likely to form a specific folded structure due to potential for extensive intramolecular base-pairing, resulting in a stable secondary structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecule of RNA most likely to fold into a specific structure as a result of intramolecular base-pairing is option 4) 5'′GGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGGGGAAAAGGAGAUGGGCAAGG-3'′.

This sequence includes repetitive patterns of nucleotides that allow for the formation of complementary base pairs, such as guanine (G) with cytosine (C) and adenine (A) with uracil (U) in RNA.

These patterns indicate a higher potential for complex secondary structures due to the possibility of multiple base-pairing interactions within the molecule.